The Gift of Adoption

We are home now and I am just left breathless. Our time in Russia was beyond words. God is amazing and is giving us the most amazing gift. 

Natalia is wonderful! Our time with her was precious! I cannot explain the feelings that have followed. 

Natalia will be 8 months on the 26th. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. She is strong, alert and has a beautiful smile!! She is trying to crawl and probably will soon Im sure, but I hope she waits until our next visit. We spent time with her outside in a cozy and decorated out door area. It was incredibly peaceful, with trees, flowers and grass surrounding us. We sat on the floor playing, talking and admiring her. She is a joy! Jason got her to laugh, I snuggled her as much as possible and we were both humbled and amazed by this precious gift.  

Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers. Please continue to pray for Natalia. Pray that she would be cared for and protected. That she would begin to bond with us. We now have 3 more trips to Russia. 2 more than we originally planned for. This will mean saying good by to her 2 more times. My heart aches over this, but please pray that this time would be used for good. That she would come to know our smell, our touch, our words and that by the time we bring her home, she will know us as more than strangers. 

This is bold, but I want to pray that there would be some way to eliminate one of the trips. The only way that I see this being possible is if the black out period is waved. Apparently this never happens, but God can make anything happen, so I pray he would brake though this barrier to bring her home. 

Pray that God will continue to provide for our adoption. Adding two more trips has been a great increase in the over all cost of our adoption. 

Pray that Jason and I would find ways to prepare Caleb and Sammy for Natalia's home coming. That their hearts would be ready to welcome and love her. 

I am so grateful for the gift of adoption and humbled that God picked us to be Natalia's family.